To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.

After months of having accounts closed and limits lowered, consumers are finding their mailboxes once again filled with big round zeros.

John Ulzheimer of Credit.com says zero-percent annual percentage rate introductory offers are the banks' way of saying they made a mistake and they want customers back.

"The consumer who has been dumped by the credit card issuer, the consumer remembers that. No one likes to be dumped," says Ulzheimer.

To win back consumers, card issuers pull out all the stops and whisper sweet nothings that are even sweeter than before.

"Six months zero percent is not a terribly enticing offer. Twenty-four months zero percent is an extremely enticing offer and that's what it's going to take," says Ulzheimer.

While they may look good on paper, senior consumer reporter Kelli Grant of SmartMoney.com says in some cases, the offers are little more than empty promises.

"They might get these offers and then when they call, they don't qualify for that rate or that term," says Grant. "They use a lot of language like, 'you may qualify for' or 'up to,' so that there's some leeway there for them to say, 'Yes, we will give you a balance transfer, but it's not going to be for those really sweet terms you thought you were getting.'"

Experts say it is important to look at the whole package. The initial APR may be low, but what banks are losing in interest, they may be looking to make up for in transfer fees.

"It's very common to see at least 3 percent of the transferred amount with no cap on it," says Grant. "And that's pretty hefty when you're talking about a $5,000 balance -- that's $150 right there."

"We have seen some really egregious transfer fees up in the 7 and 9 percent range," says Ulzheimer.

Of course, consumers who are carrying a balance on a credit card with a high interest rate, could save money with a zero percent APR, but only if used wisely. Consumers should make it a point to transfer an amount that can be feasibly paid off before the terms change.

For example, under a 12-month zero percent APR offer, $3,600 can be transferred for $350 a month. That way, the balance will be zero before the timer runs out.

Finally, consumers with good credit are hot commodities, so they should shop around.

"Look and see if there are other new cards that might be offering some enticing transfer offers, if you really think that's the way you want to go," says Grant. "Also call your other credit card issuers and see if there's anything they can offer you. It's a pretty competitive field right now."

In other words, in this competitive market, consumers don't have to settle for the first zero that comes along.